TidBITS: Comments on Why the Brother HL-2270DW Laser Printer Sucks Lesshttp://tidbits.com/
Do you reluctantly need a printer, but tire of money-sucking inkjets? Brother, have we got a printer for you.en-usCopyright 2013 TidBITS Publishing Inc.Fri, 04 Oct 2013 00:00:00 EDTFri, 04 Oct 2013 00:00:00 EDTeditors@tidbits.com (TidBITS Editors)editors@tidbits.com (TidBITS Editors)TidBITShttp://tidbits.com/images/tb_logo_152x55.pnghttp://tidbits.com/
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Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:16:56 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_20403I run it over Ethernet and it usually works, although sometimes it falls off the network and can be quite hard to get back. The manual feed is atrocious.

BTW, I didn't understand the statement in the article that it prints at 2400 x 600 dpi resolution. How do you do that? The highest res I see in any setting is 1200 dpi.

Anyway, despite its many annoyances, it's fast and cheap and the print output (for text, not graphics) is quite good. Overall I like it.]]>http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_20397
Fri, 04 Oct 2013 10:06:23 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_20397I ask because Xerox discontinues support at about 6 years. I have two of their top-of-the-line printers (a Phaser 6200 and a Phaser 3500) that are quickly losing their functionality because Xerox will not keep the drivers updated, and are thus going to have to be replaced.

Before I invest in any new printer, I need some reassurance that the manufacturer at least intends to continue driver support.]]>http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_20351
Tue, 01 Oct 2013 12:29:33 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_20351http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_20343
Tue, 01 Oct 2013 01:54:20 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_20343Like the author, we too bought our Brother HL-2270DW for about seventy dollars, on sale. We've seen aggressive pricing on these machines for fifty bucks which is a tremendous price on a lightweight, functional laser printer for light to medium duty.

Generic replacement toner cartridges can be found for about nineteen dollars and sometimes less (there are lots of online tips for squeaking the full 700+ pages out of the "starter" cartridge).For printing out volume classwork we had good luck using inexpensive indestructible Samsung laser printers for many years, but today the Brother HL-2270DW is the current winner in price and utility.

One negative not discussed: The single page "straight feed" for envelopes and heavy stock will print out skewed text unless you adjust feeding the media slightly out of square to the printer's feed door, but once you learn to make feed adjustments it works fine.]]>http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_20342
Mon, 30 Sep 2013 17:30:59 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_20342I own a reconditioned Brother HL-5370DW ( and I LOVE IT ! ! ! ). When I first got it I called Brother Support and had them hold my hand while they walked me through the wireless connection setup and I was up and running in less than 10 minutes AND I have had NO connection issues since (almost 3 years).

Much quieter than the HL-2270DW.

PS: One day, while my Lady was at work, I called Brother Support and had them hold my hand while they walked me through the wireless connection setup and I was back up and running in less than 10 minutes and there have been no problems since (almost a year). Yes it is noisy but the printing costs are quite low in all Brother Laser Printers.

Brother Support is fantastic.----Oh and for the color printing issue I vote for the All-In-One Canon Pixma MX series.]]>http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_20071
Mon, 16 Sep 2013 23:00:11 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_20071As for the concern about the pages curling in duplex, and I do almost all duplex printing, I have never seen a curling issue. I expect that is really a paper quality issue. I use the least expensive Office Depot brand copy paper and have no issues. The other thing that I know can affect paper curling is humidity, the amount of moisture in the paper.

I have found these to be excellent printers, the cartridges are quite easy to refill, and the they just plain work. For years I ran two Apple 12/640 PS printers with Duplexer and hi capacity paper tray. Those printers sold for $6000. These Brothers for $125 ea. when I bought them outperform the 12/640 PS in ALL categories (as they should, they are 20 years apart).

I have also found Brothers website to be exceedingly useful and their tech support on the one occasion I needed them to be outstanding.]]>http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_20055
Mon, 16 Sep 2013 08:09:56 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_20055http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_19980
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 07:55:17 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_19980http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_19977
Wed, 11 Sep 2013 07:42:37 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_19977http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_19950
Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:45:17 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_19950http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_19931
Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:57:45 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_19931It's called "Brother iPrint & Scan", and a WindowsPhone version is also available.]]>http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_19922
Fri, 06 Sep 2013 15:28:26 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_19922http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_19918
Fri, 06 Sep 2013 03:16:53 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_19918http://db.tidbits.com/article/14079?rss#comments_19917
Fri, 06 Sep 2013 03:11:12 EDThttp://tidbits.com/article/14079#comments_19917When I bought it, it was hands down the cheapest printer to run, and not particularly expensive to buy.

The two distinctive features were a lifetime warranty on the printer drum (you buy toner cartridges, not integrated toner/printhead cartridges), and much lower power consumption than say HP printers. I hope other manufacturers have brought their power consumption down, but I think the lifetime print drums are unique.

It also has built in duplexing - essential if you want to save paper, and ethernet and USB, but not wireless printing.